England lost in such a ridiculous and childish manner against the Germans, who for periods of the tournament seemed a faint shadow of the long foreseen individual prospects their young ranks could offer. Pearce's men faced the eventual final sabre with the main warning in the form of the scoresheet of the previous match, against the home guests. Event though the German side faced problems, this time Özil, Wagner and Khedira showed throughout the whole ninety minutes, the full potential of the the Deutsche machinery. Aided through England's keeper, and the reluctant and hapless 'visiting' defence, the Germans are the current champions.
The only thing that could end the suffering for the young lions would be the immediate beginning of preseason in England, which for many may be the authoritative step to cement their place in the senior English team or to be chosen for their current teams on the senior bench. For the Germans a brighter future lies ahead with Marin, Özil and Neuer apparently securing a call from Loew next match. Other players can be sure to have caught the attention of several clubs in the hope to emigrate into either England or other top class destination.
The previous encounter in group stage now seemed but a fading memory instead of an actual reminder of the state for the teams. It is rare that in any tournament one can find any resemblance of two teams that have played each other in both group and in knockout stages. In this case the score was doubled to favour the opposite team, Germany. Again Uli summarises,
with his incredible memory, the youth development system that led to this victory.
The English team started the match quite lively approaching twice to Neuer's goal. Unfortunately for Hrubesch's men that did not came as the match progressed, with open efforts from both sides. In the fifteenth minute Özil set Khedira after a couple of dribbles, just to see the English defence to clear wide from their box.
Strangely enough it was through the talented Bremen midfielder that the German side encountered the lead: Castro scored past Loch as Özil broke the English defensive line in the 23th minute. England's response was a cross by Milner and a handful of possession. Khedira brought balance to a team full of energy, often outnumbered in midfield, in which either Özil or even the striker Wagner would not venture to go. Whether England's attempts were strong enough, each time Walcott entered the third-quarter area, either Khedira or Hummels denied him in any case.
Pierce's youngsters ended the first half in high with at least one shot on target and several crosses into Neuer's box. The struggle between Beck and Gibbs was really entertaining.
And indeed the English team began the match with the efforts to equalise early in the game. But all previous struggles by the visiting side were nullified in the 48th minute by Özil. Martin Tyler immediately said that it was "a catastrophe". Loch miscalculated the ball from the swerve and power of the terrific display by the German striker. From then on all that the German side had to do was completely untroubled: held as in the first half and expect that English team slowly worn out in physical attitude to later finish the final stroke.
Slowly Pierce's youngsters regained possession and control of the match and by the 60th minute, Cattermole lovely volley and Milner's terrific dribbling pushed Germany to the edge. If Sweden scored three as well as Liverpool there was plenty of time to both equalise and win the match. Cattermole's header was cleared off the line by Beck and certainly Germany was going through their toughest time in the match. Hummels again slided to deny a pass from Johnson to Walcott.
Özil dexterous trickeries nearly earned Germany a couple of goals before the third, exactly when the English pressure was at its height. Again the skilful ex-Schalke player set his second assistance to Wagner who score past Loch to give the German team the unassailable lead. The fourth was yet to come, in the 84th through a play by Wagner. A beautiful curled shot to the far post and the Germans, earned with all their weapons, the title of European Champions.
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